Judging

2023 Honey Spirits Competition

The Honey Spirits Competition is hosted by the National Honey Board to recognize the best honey spirits in the country and will take place in St. Louis, Missouri in August 2023. The judging will be closed to the public.

The Honey Spirits Competition seals will be awarded on a merit basis by a majority vote. Judges are asked to evaluate the spirits in silence until everyone on the panel has finished their evaluation. A moderator records the judges’ votes.

Spirits are presented to judges in a blind tasting format. Judging is absolutely anonymous; no spirit bottles are visible to the judges at any time until the competition is over. No judge may evaluate a product in which he/she has a stake or ownership. Judging is not based on personal preference, but by product quality and the use of honey in the spirit.

The judges’ decision is final and awards will not be changed after the judging is finished.